Protecting against sexual assault

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According to the National Sexual Violence Research Center, one in five women and one in 71 men will be raped in their lifetime. 91 percent of these victims are female while 9 percent are male.

One might think the perpetrator is a stranger hiding in the bushes, when the crude reality is that one in 10 women have been raped by an intimate partner, meaning an acquaintance can very well be the culprit.

Ninety percent of sexual assault victims do not report the assault. Sexual assault happens at colleges and universities throughout the nation.

Some Chico State students said they feel unsafe walking alone at night.

“Usually the streets I walk through are dark, and you can’t clearly see who’s behind you and in front of you,” said Lisa Guevara, sophomore health science major.

A resource provided by University Police is R.A.D., which stands for Rape Aggression and Defense. R.A.D. is a national program founded by an officer who wanted to create a self-defense class fit for anyone.

“[If the victim] had known self-defense, they could’ve had a better outcome,” said Corinne Beck, lieutenant for University Police.

The class is taught at over 350 colleges and universities. The four-day class is only available to women, but is free for any woman who wants to feel safer and grasp essential self-defense techniques.

Classes begin this semester Oct. 5-8, from 6-9 p.m. in Yolo Hall.

“It’s kind of scary, I tend to avoid walking past men,” said Tara Monson, sophomore psychology major. “To know that I can take R.A.D. is comforting.”

Tara Monson, sophomore psychology major, is happy there is a source to learn self-defense because she feels scared at times walking in Chico. Photo credit: Eva Gonzalez

Lt. Beck is one of the four core instructors for R.A.D., and she has earned her credentials in self-defense. In order to obtain her certification, she was required to complete a weeklong training regime to instruct the class.

She has been an instructor since 2006. Not only will students learn self-defense, they will also learn tips on how to make themselves safer in any environment.

R.A.D. begins with a powerpoint which portrays crucial strategies about general safety, awareness and options for any threatening real-life scenario. No martial arts background is required. Not only does R.A.D. prepare people for a physical attack, it also focuses on mental self-defense.

The self-defense class begins with basic moves that anyone can master with practice and repetition. If the student is petite and feels they are at a disadvantage, they are mistaken. R.A.D. helps anyone, no matter the size or age.

The class focuses on every type of scenario, from standing submissions to ground moves. When facing an attacker, instructors want the R.A.D. mentee to understand there is always an option on how to disable your attacker.

This is the only class where instructors want the student to be prepared, but hope they never utilize. R.A.D has a free lifetime return and practice policy.

“This class is so important; my daughter took it,” Beck said.

The class provides women with multiple techniques, advice and confidence. Beck shares a moving success story with her class about a woman who was terrified of walking to her car at night. The woman avoided walking at night for 25 years. After taking the class, Lt. Beck offered to walk her to her car, but she denied the kind offer and said, “I feel like I can do it.”

The instructors genuinely care about safety and it’s moments like these that make the program stand out. R.A.D. is a great form of self-defense that can help ease worries when one’s safety is at risk.

For men seeking a self-defense class, local martial arts classes are available, Beck said.

Any way to prevent sexual assault is worth a try. To attend a class, contact Lt. Corinne Beck via email at [email protected]. To learn more about the class, visit www.rad-systems.com.

“We love for our students to take the class,” Beck said. “You have a right to defend your body.”